Introduction

Kay is a professional writer based in Eugene. OR. She has written more than thirty books and now speaks with her husband, Danile Kline on a variety of topics.

Michele Rickett is found and president of She is Safe, an international ministry seeking to equip women against poverty, oppression, exploitation, and spiritual darkness.

Summary

From the back of the book:

Think of the little girls you know: your daughter, a niece, a friend’s child. Then think about this: little girls are tossed away every day.

All over the world, women and girls face troubles such as starvation, displacement, illiteracy, sexual exploitation and abuse. In fact, statistics show that the world’s most oppressed people are overwhelmingly female.

Moved by the plight of these neglected girls, advocates Kay Marshall Strom and Michele Rickett took a trip across continents to interview girls and to partner with ministries working to help females in some of the most difficult places in the world.

These pages hold those girls’ stories: stories of deep pain and suffering, inspiring courage, and incredible hope. They are the stories of girls who have discovered their value in God’s eyes, in the midst of cultures that have rejected them. They are stories of rescue and redemption by God working through compassionate people—people like you.

Review

This is one of those books that you cannot “unread.” It is divided into five parts that look at the needs of physical, educational, sexual protection, freedom and spiritual lives in women across the globe. Most of these women are from Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist cultures. All of these women are stories of suffering.

The goal of the authors to give these “forgotten girls” a voice succeeds in a way that will change anyone who reads this work. The stories are true to life and will break any illusion of comfort we may have in our lives (if you are reading this review, I would think it is safe to assume that your life is one of comparative comfort). Furthermore, what these girls endure will bring sadness to your mind while helping you to understand the hope that we can offer.

While not everyone will be able to necessarily “go,” everyone can certainly begin to raise awareness in their local contexts. This work has the potential to do just that.

Recommendation

I highly recommend this resource to all. Specifically, a women’s study group or a female youth small group would do well to read and consider the lives of these forgotten girls.